Egg and butter carrier.



A. I. COUGHENOUR.

EGG AND BUTTER CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1914.

1,148,958. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

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A 4 '3a 5 Za 26 912% /3 3 /I l M A TTORNEYS A. J. COUGHENOUR.

EGG AND BUTTER CARRIER.

APPLICATION man APR. 1B. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.rindan Y Irwin/TOR Wl TNESSES A'ToRNEys A. J. COUGHENOUR.

EGG AND BUTTER CARRIER.

AP'PLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHELT 3.

PATE

ALLEN 3. COUGHENOUR, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

'EGG N13 BUTTER CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application iled April 18, 191. Serial No. 332,911.

T0 @ZZ whom it may con cern Be it known that l, ALLEN J. CoUGHn- Noun, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident oi Kansas City, in the county of Jackson State of Missouri, have made certain nenv and useful improvements in Egg and Butter Carriers, ot1 which the fok lowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in egg and butter carriers, and has for its object to provide carrier ot the character specilied, especially adapted for the transportation oi eggs and butter, incandescent light bulbs, bottle goods, andlike fragile articles by parcel post, express or the like, wherein an outer casing is provided and an inner carrier or container for the articles, cushioned against the outer casing.

1n the drawings: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the improved carrier, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 oi Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent to the line, showing an elastic support for the articles, Fig. 3 is enlarged sectional vien' of a portion of the top support, Fig. is a transverse section oi a portion or a supporting element for the article, Fig. 5 is a perspective vieY of a portion ot the said element- `with parts broken away, Fig. 1S an enlarged section of the lower end oi'the carrier showing a modified torni of cushion, 7 is a section on the line T-7 oi? Fig. G, looking in trie direction ot the arrows, S 9 are top plan views oi modified constructions of support-- ing elements, 10 is ay top plan view or a modilied toria ot' ring, 'with parts insection, liig. 11 is a hinizontal section ot another modification, and l1`i0s. and 13 are sectional views otmodined forms of top supports. i

in the present embodiment ot the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the carrier comprises a receptacle consisting of a cylindrical body 1, having a base 2 which is arranged Within the loiver end of the body, and secured to the body by means of screw nails 3 or the l'k coverl is provided, the cover consisting ot a disk ci fitting within the upper end oi the body of the receptacle. and provided with hasps 5, which are adapted to engage staples il on the body, the hasps being secured to the disk Il by in Sans or' screws 7 or the like.

A plate S is arranger diametrically of the cover, and a handle 9 is connected to the plate 8 and to the cover by means of rivets 10 or the like, the rivets passing through lugs 11 at the endsof the handle, and through the plate 9 and the cover to connect the parts together. 1Within the receptacle is arranged a carrier, the carrier comprising a central compartment for containing butter or the like, and a plurality of annular series of smaller compartments for containing eggs or like articles.

A disk12 is provided, the disk having a portion at its periphery of annular form oiiset laterally downward' with respect to the body of the disk, as indicated at 13. A cup-shaped holder 14 of the same diameter as the body of the disk 12 is seated on the said body, and is secured to the body by means 'of rivets 15.

A cover 1G is provided for the receptacle 111, the said cover being a disk having a marginal fiange 17 which engages Outside of thevtop of the container 1li. The container l is adapted to receive apackage 18 of butter, cheese or the like, the package being of a size to fit Within the container or receptacle 14 tightly, and to extend from the bottom to near the top thereof. It is 0bvious that instead of a single package, a number of packages might be placed Within the container 11.

A ring consisting of portions 19 and 19a offset laterally With respect to each other and parallel and connected by an integra-l web 2O is connected With the cover, the portion 19 ot the ring being lapped upon the cover at the periphery thereof, and secured thereto by means of rivets 21b or the like,`

and the portion 19n of the ring is odset upwardly from the cover.

A series of holders is supported between the otset portion 13 of the disk 12 and the portion 19L of the ring 19-1931 Three series of containers are provided and all are alike, each series being formed from strips of pasteboard, papier mch, or the like, corrugated for the sake of strength. Each series of containers is formed from strips 21 of suitable inaterialcorrugated as above specified, and the strips are interwoven to form substantially cylindrical pockets 22, each of asize to receive an egg 23 or the like. l

An annular strip 24 of similar material is arranged on the upper face of the oiset portion 13 oi the disk 12, the said strip form- 'ing a support upon which the first series of a third series of egg containers is arranged above' the second. series and in a manner to be described. The strips 24 and 25 extend entirely around the portion 13, and the lower .ends of the containers 22 rest upon the strip 24'. The strip 25 rests upon the upper ends of the containers 22, closing the tops of the containers. The second series of eggs and containers is arranged between the strips' 25 and 24a and the second series is held in place against the central container 14 by means of a strip or ring 27 .Y The containers 22 are. in fact open ended tubes, and it is obvious that they may be of many dif# ferent constructions and arrangements. A. strip 26 of similar-material to the strips 21, 24 and 25 is arranged at the inner sides of the containers 22, Athe said strip resting against the web 12a which connects the portion 13 of the disk 12 with-.the portion 12 and against the outer face of the body of the receptacle. JAnother strip 27 of similar material is' arranged outside of the containers 22, thesaid strip holding the containers against the strip 26.

The strips 26 and 27 are continuous rings, and it will be obvious that they will hold the several containers 22 in proper. position. The upper series of containers22a is precisely like the intermediate and lower series 22, and strips 24a and 25a are arranged below and above the containers. and 27a are arranged on the inner and outer sides of the containers in the same manner as the strips 26 and 2710i the series 22. The strip 25a rests against the portion 19 of the ring 19-19a. The complete'series of containers, namely the container 14 and the containers 22 anu, 22a is cushioned against both topand bottom of the outer casing or receptacle, by means of the vmechanism shown inFigs. 1, and 3. The supporting mechanism is the same for the top and the bottom.

A rusto-conical sleeve 28 is connected to the top 16l of the container 14 and to the bodyv of the disk 12, said sleeve having an outwardly ext-ending radial flange 29 at its large or lower end, which is lapped upon the upper face ofv thecover 16,' and secured thereto by rivets 3() or the like. At itsjupper small end the sleeve is provided with an inwardly curved flange 31. A frusto-conical sleeve is connected with the disk 4 of the cover and with the bottom 2 by means of rivets 33 or the like, the rivets passing through the disk and through a marginal radial {iange 34 at the large end of the sleeve..

The outer surface of the sleeve 28 is Strips 26a slightly convex. longitudinally, while the outer surface of the sleeve 32A is concave longitudinally, and the small or lower end of the sleeve 32 is adapted to pass into the open upper end of thesleeve 28. A washer 35 is arranged at the small end of the sleeve 32 and within the sleeve 28, the said washer having a concave flange 36 which is opposite the flange 31 of the sleeve 28, and a ring 37 of rubber is arranged between the lianges 31 and 36.

A coil spring 38 is arranged within the sleeve 28 between the body of the washer 35 and the cover 16, the upper end of theV spring engaging the washer at the junction of the flange 36 therewith. The small end of the sleeve 32 is provided with an opening 39, and the body 'of the washer 35 is provided with a similar opening 40 registering with the' opening 39. A bolt 41 isjournaled in an opening 42 in the cover 4, the bolt having at its :upper end. a handle 43 which extends above the cover at the handlev 9.

A washer 44 .of rubber or the like encircles the bolt at the outer end of the opening 42 and the bolt is supported by a bearing angle bracket 45 on the inner face of the cover. The boltl is provided with aneXtension 46 which passes through the openings 39 and 40 and is provided with a lateral lug 47 which is adapted to engage beneath the washer 35 at the opening 40 to lock the washer against the closed end of the sleeve 32. A staple 43 holds the extension against the inner face of the cover. Nhenthe handle 43 is operated to draw the Abolt 41 upward the extension 46 will be swung to disengage the lug 47 from beneath the washer. The lower end of the supporting mechanism for the lbutter and' Figs. 1 and 6, that the handle of the lower bolt is normally within the recess or opening 49 inthe under face of the bottom, in

' order to prevent engagement of the said handle with thev supporting surface for the outer casing or receptacle. The washer 44 is designed to prevent theentrance of moisture, as for instance rain, into the opening 42. h

In Figs. 6 and 7 the containers'for the eggs are tubes 50, and the tubes are held against the `web 12l of the disk 12 andV against the body ot the container 14 by means of a band 51 of elastic material. The band 51 is in the orui of a strip, having a snap fastener at its ends, and the tubular containers 50 rest upon corrugated stri ps or rings 53 which rest upon the p0rtion 13 ot the disk l2, and another strip or ring 5l is arranged at the upper endsot the tubes. Within each of the containers 5U an article 23 is arranged as shown, and

ticlrs against the cylinder Sl.

ine-asse a ring of felt or the like is arranged between the article, and the inner wall of the container.` ln this construction also the upper and lower support-s for the article holder diller slightly from those shown in Figs. l and 3, in that the spring 53S is dispensed with, being replaced by a sleeve 5S of rubber or the like, the sleeve being placed in precisely the same position as the coil spring.

lt will be evident that the individual containers might be constructed in inanv different manners, as for instance in Fig. 8 the individual containers 57 for the articles are formed from a strip 58 of suitable inaterial transversely corrugated, and bent to form open holders, the openings being at the inner sides of theholders. ring or cylinder 59 of similar material is arranged at the inner sides of the holders or containers for closing the openings, and the containers are held against the central container le by means ot a band G0 similar to the band 5l of Figs. 6 and 7.

The ring or c vlinder mav he of plain material as shown at 6l in F ig. 9, and the individual containers 62 for the articles may be formed by a strip 63 similar to the strip 58 but arranged in such manner as to form open containers, the openings being outward instead of inward. lilith this construction the outward openings are closed bv a band 6l similar to band 6G, and the said band holds the containers and the ar- Fig, l0 is shown a construction or' ring that ma)T be used in place of the ring 37, shown in Fig. l, wherein a pluralityY ot series of rubber disks or washers is arranged on an annular frame or rings 55 of wire or the like. The members 66 of one ot the series of washers are of larger size than the ineinbers T37 of the other series, and the wasliers 6G are arranged alternately with respect to the. washers (S7. Each et the washers (36 and G7 is wedge-shaped as -a whole, and the washers are arranged with the small end inwardly. llith this arrangement a series of inwardly extending resilient iingers is provided for engaging the i'iange 3G of the washer 35, and an outwardly extending series of resilient fingers ionengaging the flange 3l of the sleeve A slight moditication of this construct-ion shown in Fig. 11, where the traine (SS of wire or the like has molded thereon a covering ot rubber having inwardly extending points G9 and outwardly extending points TO. Either of the above orms is especiallyY resilient, and ani7 desired. degree ot resilience ma;7 beobtained b v increasing or diminishing the thickness of the washers or oit the points 69 and 70.

In Figl l2 a modified form of cushioning device Jfor the ends of the article holder and the washer 76 which corresponds tor the washer 35 is provided with outwardly extending lugs 77 which normali;T aline with the lugs 'i' ot the lingers 74:.

Coil springs 7S are arranged between the washer and the fingers, each spring engaging a lug T5 at one end and a lug 7T at the other. The spring 38 is arranged in the saine manner in this construction as in Fig. 3. rThe locking device is in the form ot a resilient latch 78 held to the cover by a staple 7S), and the latch is operated by means .90 with an angular handle Sl at of a rotatable and provided its oiiter end, end.

bolt 8O journaled in the cover,

and with a lug S2 at its inner A coil spring 83 encircles the bolt, one end being secured to the cover and the other to the bolt. The latch is adapted to engage beneath the washer in the saine manner the extension lll on the bolt -l-l, and the latch l.

may be released b v means of the lng on` the bolt 80.

ln lfig.' 18 the cover lb is cushioned against the dish 8l by means of a washer S5 secured to the dislr by rivets S6 and having lingers S7 similar to the lingers il of the washer the 4sleeves and and the washer 8S is arranged in the sainefmanner with respect` to the sleeve 32h, and with respect to spring 3S, the spring pressing the washer against the sleeve 3f:2'. Each oi the lingers 87 is provided with a curved lug Si? at the end remote from the disk Shand'the washer is provider with similar lugs 90. The free end ol' each lug 90 bears against the tree end of an adjacent lug 89. The bolt 91 resembles the holt all, the said bolt Sll having an extension 92 which locks the washer against the end of the sleeve A spring 93 is arranged between one side of the tl ange ot' the sleeve 3f" and the cover,

Ithe tree end oi' the spring bearing against the lower end of the boltto normallv hold the bolt in locked position. The bolt is released, bv pressing downward on the upper end oi' the same. lt will be noted from' an inspection oi' vFig 123, that the openings oic the sleeve 232 and oli the washer are eccentric instead of central.

rlhe operation of the constructions shown in Figs. l, 6, l2- and 13 is precisely'the same,

rllhe sleeve 52 corresponds tol lee Y p the outer casing or shipping receptacle.v

each construction being designed to cushion the holder-proper for the articles against While the improved carrier has been described as carrying eggs and butter, it is obvious that, it migh't be used with equal advantage for carrying electric light bulbs, dynamite caps and explosives ofrall kinds, or any other article wherein it is desired to prevent injury to the same during transit.

The constructions shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are modified forms of the ring 37 shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and may be used in place of the said rings. Either the device shown inF ig. 10 or that shown in Fig. 1l may be substituted for the ring 37 at the top and the bottom of the container.

It will be understood that the portions 13' and 19a ofthe disk and ring respectively are spaced apart far enough to receive three series of egg carriers, and the carriers of the several series are heldbetween the said offset portions. The lowermost series of carriers rests on the portion 13, the intermediate Series rests on the first series, and the carriers of the uppermost series rest on those of the intermediate series.

l. A carrier for the transportation of fragile articles, comprising a substantially cylindrical outer casing having a removable cover, a central substantially cylindrical casing arranged within the outer, casing in spaced relation and having a removable,

cover, a disk secured to the bottom of the inner casing and having an'annular downwardly oset portion extending radially beyond the inner container, a ring secured to the cover and having an upwardly offset radially extendingportion, a series of individual containers seated on each of the said portions, and a. cushioning means between eachj end of the inner carrier andthe outer casing, each of the said cushioning means comprising a frusto-conical sleeve secured to the inner carrier and a similar sleeve secured to the adjacent end ot' the outer casing, the small ends of the sleeves being free, the sleeves of the inner carriers having inwardly cxten'ding curved flanges,- .a washer within each of the said sleeves and having a curved iiange arranged opposite 'the iiange of the sleeve, a rubber ring between the anges, a

spring between eac-li washerl and the adja-` cent cnd of the inner carrier, and means for locking each washer againstthe inner end ot' tliespring of the outer casing, said locking moans being releasable. c

2. A carrier for the vtransportation of fragile articles, comprising a substantially cylindrical outer casing having a removable v cover, a central substantially cylindrical casing arranged within the outer casing in spaced relation and having a removable cover, a disk secured to the bottom of the inner casing and having an annular down- "wardly offset portion extending radially bei comprising a frusto-conical sleeve secured to the inner carrier and a similar sleeve secured to the adjacent end of the outer casing, the

small ends of the sleeves being free, the sleeves of the inner carrierhaving inwardly extending curved ianges, a washer within each of the said sleeves and having a curved flange arranged opposite the fiange :of the sleeve, a rubber ring between the flanges, av

coil spring between each washer and the `adjacent end of theinner carrier, and means for locking each washer against the inner end of the spring of the outer casing.

3. A carrier for the Vtransportation of fragile articles, comprising 4a substantially ycylindrical outer casing having a removable cover, a central substantiallyv cylindrical casing arranged within the outer casing in spaced relation and having 'a removable cover, a disk secured tothe bottom ofthe inner casing and having an annular downwardly offset portion extending radially be- -vond the inner container, a ring secured to the cover and having an upwardly offset radially extending portion, a series of indi` vidual containers seated on each of the said portions, and a cushioning -means'between each end of the-inner carrier and the'outer casing, each of the said cushioning means. comprising a sleeve secured to the inner carrier and a similar sleeve secured to the adjacent end of the outer casing, the small ends of tlie sleeves being free, the sleeves of the inner carriers having inwardlyv extending curved flanges, a washer within each of the said sleeves and having a curved flange arranged opposite the flange of the sleeve, a rubber ring between the ianges, and a coil spring between each washer and the adjacent end of the inner carrier.

4. A carrier for the transportation of fragile articles, comprising a substantially cylindrical outer casing having a removable cover, a central. substantially cylindrical casing arranged within the outer casing in wardly offset noi-tion extending radially beyond the inner container, a ring secured to the coverand having an upwardly off-l set radially extending portion, a series of individual containers seated on each of the said portions, and a cushioning means between each end of the inner carrier and the outer casing, each of the said means com- 

